Civil War Chronicles: Year 1861-1864

2. The First Year - 1861 THE SOUTH SECEDES – January 1861 • Abraham Lincoln is elected to be the President of the United States of America • A state convention is called • Delegates voted to remove the state of SOUTH CAROLINA from the union (The United States of America) • Six other states followed the secession of South Carolina from the union • These states included Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas • Four other states secede: Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee and North Carolina • These states become known as the “Confederate States of America” THE SOUTH CREATES A GOVERNMENT – February 1861 • The seceding states hold a convention in Alabama • They create the Confederate Constitution • Although similar to the United States Constitution, the Confederate Constitution posses a greater stress on the autonomy of each state. • Until elections could be held, Jefferson Davis was named President of the Confederacy.

3. The First Year - 1861 THE SOUTH SEIZES FEDERAL FORTS – February 1861 • President Buchanan refuses to surrender southern federal forts to the seceding states • Southern state troops seize them • Troops from South Carolina refuse a supply ship at Fort Sumter • The ship was trying to reach federal forces that were based in Fort Sumter • Ship was forced to return to New York • The supplies were never delivered ATTACK ON FORT SUMTER – April 1861 • Lincoln had forewarned the Southern States of his plan to send supplies to Fort Sumter • He wanted to avoid any possible hostilities • South Carolina feared a trick in Lincoln’s plan • Robert Anderson was asked to surrender • Anderson’s sets up a proposition to surrender only after his supplies have run out • Proposition is rejected • Shots were fired on the Fort • Civil War began on April 12 • Fort Sumter was surrendered to South Carolina

4. The First Year - 1861 THE BATTLE OF THE BULL RUN – July 1861 • On the way to Richmond, the Union Army encounters a small number of Confederate Forces • The battle was expected to bring an easy victory for the Union • Supposed to be a quick end to the war • This battle showcased how unprepared and poorly trained both armies were • Although the Union could fight better, the Confederates win • The union flees back to Washington

5. The Second Year - 1862 THE BATTLE OF SHILOH – April 1862 • Confederate forces attacked Union Forces • Confederate forces were under the order of General Ulysses S. Grant at Shiloh, Tennessee • Federal Troops were almost defeated at the end of the day • Reinforcements arrived during the night • Next morning the Union Commanded the field • Exhausted federal forces did not retreat when Confederate forces did • Casualities on both forces were high (13,000 out of 63,000 Union Soldiers died and/or missing. 11,000 of 40,000Confederate troops died and/or missing) JACKSON “Stonewall” DEFEATS UNION FORCES – May 1862 • Jackson commanded forces in Shenandoah valley to attack Union Forces • This forced the union to retreat across the Potomac • Union troops were rushed to protect Washington, D.C as a result of this. THE SEVEN DAY’S BATTLES – July 1862 • Union and confederate forces fought a series of battles • This was between June 26 to July 2 • These Battles Included: Mechanicsville, Gaine’s Mill, Savage’s Station, Frayser’s Farm and Malvern Hill • Confederates withdrew to Richmond on the 2nd of July. • This ended the Peninsular Campaign.

6. The Second Year - 1862 ANTIETAM – September 1862 • Confederate Forces under General Lee were caught by General McClellan around Sharpsburg, Maryland • Bloodiest day of the entire war • 2.108 Union soldiers were killed and 9,549 were wounded • 2,700 Confederates were killed and 9,029 wounded • No clear winner of the battle • This was because General Lee withdrew to Virginia so McClellan was considered the victor • Lincoln announced his Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation • This would free all slaves in area’s that rebelled against the US • It was effective January 1, 1863

7. The Third Year - 1863 THE EMANCIPATION PROCLOMATION – January 1863 • Written by Abraham Lincoln • Would free all slaves in all states that rebelled against the Union • It first affected slaves that had only escaped and successfully made it over to the union side • Once the Union Army advanced, ten thousand slaves were liberated each day • Due to the emancipation proclamation over four million slaves had been free • and liberated THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG – July 1863 • Was from July 1 – July 3 • Fought around the town of Gettysburg • It was part of the Gettysburg campaign • One of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War • In three days between 46,000 and 51,000 American soldiers were killed • The victor of this battle was the Union Army

8. The Fourth Year - 1864 THE BATTLE OF THE COLD HARBOR – June 1864 • General Ulysses S. Grant’s last battle • One of the most bloodiest battles in all of American History • Over thousands of Union Soldiers will killed by the Confederate Troops • They were under the order of General Robert E. Lee • About 13,000 soldiers from the Union Army were killed • About 2,500 soldiers from the Confederate Army were killed • The Confederate Army were the winners of this battle

9. The Fifth and Final Year - 1865 THE FALL OF THE CONFEDERACY – January 1865 • The confederate had built Fort Fisher near the mouth of Cape Fear River (North Carolina) • By doing this, Port Wilmington would remain open • The Confederates surrendered January 15, 1865 • Because it was surrendered the supply line for Robert E. Lee’s army was cut off • Soldiers started starving • They left Lee’s forces because of this • The President of the Confederacy said slaves would be used to stop the army from getting smaller • This act was never put into motion THE CONFEDERATE ARMY SURRENDERS – April 1865 • General Robert E. Lee Surrenders the Confederate Army on April 9, 1865 • The Civil War lasted four years • It was estimated that there was over 1 Million Causalities

10. The End.